No one should have to suffer lasting pain from a work-related injury. Workplace injuries are common, and you should know what to do if you get hurt on the job.
Dr. Ajay Kumar and our team at New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center help patients who’ve sustained a workplace injury. If you’re suffering from back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, or knee pain due to a work-related injury, we can help.
If you get hurt in your workplace or elsewhere while on the job, you may qualify to have your medical care paid for by your employer and also to have lost wages paid for the time you’re away from work due to your injury. This assumes that you weren’t at fault for the injury through recklessness or intoxication.
However, there are some steps to take to ensure your workers’ compensation case is handled appropriately.
Assuming you aren’t unconscious or otherwise unable to talk to your supervisor, the first thing you need to do is report your injury. Depending on the state where you work, you may need to give written notice. There may be a time limit for you to report a workplace injury and still qualify for compensation.
If you’re severely injured and need emergency care, get to an ER as quickly as possible. This might mean being taken by a co-worker, friend, or family member, or going by ambulance.
If you don't need to seek emergency treatment, don’t delay getting care. Check if you're required to see your employer’s chosen medical providers for your initial evaluation. This can vary from employer to employer and state to state.
For example, in Pennsylvania, employers may keep a list of at least six designated providers in your geographical area posted in the workplace, and you’re given a copy that you must sign when you’re hired. If your employer hasn’t provided a list or doesn’t comply with PA Workers' Compensation Act guidelines, you have the right to see a provider of your choice.
Whether your employer pays your medical claims and pays for lost work time depends on the circumstances of the injury, your state, and who your employer is. In the state of New York, employees of the state have their claims handled and paid by the New York State Insurance Fund.
Make sure you keep a written and dated record of everything that happens after your injury. Ask for copies of medical records related to treatment of the workplace injury and keep your own written record of your symptoms, especially any pain you may feel as a result of your injury.
This can help your health care provider assist you as you navigate the aftermath of being hurt on the job and properly diagnose any injury you may have.
If you’re injured at work, schedule an appointment with Dr. Kumar and his team. We have offices in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Matamoras, Pennsylvania, and Warwick, New York, for your convenience.
